John Cockrell is a head teacher in the Early Childhood Program, whose life and career have brought him continually - and happily - back to Diller-Quaile. Since graduating from Trinity College (CT) with a B.A. in Music longer ago than he cares to admit, his professional life has walked a landscape fertile for performing (stand-up comedy, theater and a smattering of dreadful commercials) and, most recently, writing.

Having worked as a writer/producer for three seasons on USA Network’s witness protection-themed program In Plain Sight, John wrote multiple episodes, including two season finales and the series finale. He has since worked on multiple TV shows for CBS. In 2012 and in 2020 he wrote and produced two campaign shorts, which reunited the cast of The West Wing, begging the question, “Um...should I just retire now?”

Fortunately for his wife Theresa and their 12-year-old son Theo, John did not retire. And fortunately for him - and for his sanity - Diller-Quaile and its faculty, staff and families remain a reinvigorating touchstone; a constant and calming source of music and joy in his life.

NOW TEACHING
Early Childhood Program
Community Programs

Luisa Cohen holds a B.F.A. in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street. She has also completed Level I Kodály certification and has studied Dalcroze methodology. Luisa was a classroom teacher at Brick Church and The Kaplan Nursery School before returning to Diller-Quaile in 2007. She continues to perform as a soprano in various concerts, and is currently singing with the Central City Chorus, as a chorus member and soloist.with the Central City Chorus, as a chorus member and soloist.

NOW TEACHING
Early Childhood Program
Community Programs

Marissa Curry is Director of the Early Childhood Program at Diller-Quaile. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from New York University and Master of Arts in Music Education and K-12 certification in Music from Teachers College Columbia University. At Teachers College, Marissa was awarded the Arthur Zankel Fellowship. Prior to her current position, Marissa taught early childhood music classes at Diller-Quaile from 2006-2011. Most recently, she was the head music teacher at the Success Charter Network (Success Academy Harlem 3), where she originated a general music program and curriculum for children in kindergarten – 4th grade, as well as a choral program for children in grades 3 & 4. Additionally, she organized professional development experiences for music teachers across seven schools. She received Kodály Level I Certification from NYU and has studied Dalcroze and Orff approaches.Quaile from 2006-2011. Most recently, she was the head music teacher at the Success Charter Network (Success Academy Harlem 3), where she originated a general music program and curriculum for children in kindergarten – 4th grade, as well as a choral program for children in grades 3 & 4. Additionally, she organized professional development experiences for music teachers across seven schools. She received Kodály Level I Certification from NYU and has studied Dalcroze and Orff approaches.

NOW TEACHING
Director of the Early Childhood Program
Community Programs

Ingrid Ladendorf joined the faculty of The Diller-Quaile School of Music in 1996. Since that time, she has taught in the departments of: Early Childhood, Instrumental and Vocal, NYC Community Programs, and Teacher Training. She is currently the Rug Concerts Program Director and an Early Childhood Program Advisor. Ingrid is an adjunct faculty member of The College of New Jersey, where she teaches the K-8 music education practicum course and supervises student teachers. She received her NYS certification and B.M. in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College, and an M.A. in Music Education from Teachers College Columbia University.

NOW TEACHING
Early Childhood Program, Advisor
Rug Concerts, Program Director

Caroline Moore holds a PhD in Music and Human Learning from The University of Texas at Austin, as well as an M.A. in Music and Music Education from Teachers College at Columbia University and a B.A. from the Gallatin School at NYU. Caroline conducts research in Early Childhood music and teacher training, and has presented her research and given workshops at regional, national, and international educational conferences. As a performer, Caroline is featured on Diller-Quaile’s Songs for Singing and Sharing, the score for the Academy Award short-listed documentary Favela Rising, and has performed at Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Allen Room, and the Metropolitan Opera.

NOW TEACHING
The Diller-Quaile Institute, Director

James Sheppard is a versatile musician living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. As a pianist and vocalist, James has performed in Carnegie's Weill and Zankel Recital Halls, The Rogers Auditorium at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn's National Sawdust, The Abrons Art Center, The NYU Skirball Center, The Brooklyn Bowl and Joe's Pub at the Public to name a few.

James is the house musician for Sasha Velour's show Nightgowns. His work with local chanteuse Daphne Always earned them a Brooklyn Nightlife Award for Best Musical Group in 2019. James composes for the Bridge Arts Ensemble, where his original children's concert Help Us Compose a Song! Has traveled to over fifty school districts in the Adirondacks. His musical The Lady Winifred and Didi Show was named "Wonderfully original" from NY-Theater-Now. James has also been commissioned by The Emerald Trio and NYC based string orchestra Shattered Glass.

He currently works as a teaching artist at The Diller-Quaile School of Music and the 92Y. James also works as a Baritone vocalist for the Schola Cantorum at the Church of Saint Vincent-Ferrer under James Wetzel.

James graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with a BM and MM in Classical Composition under the Jay Rubinton Scholarship.

NOW TEACHING
Early Childhood Program
Instrumental and Vocal Department

Percussionist Jared Soldiviero enjoys a multi-faceted freelance career in his hometown, New York City.

For over 10 years, he has subbed regularly on Broadway, playing Sweeney Todd, Camelot, Days of Wine and Roses, Merrily We Roll Along, Flying Over Sunset, Hello Dolly!, An American in Paris, Bullets Over Broadway, Bridges of Madison County, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark and Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Before 2020, he spent two and half years touring the USA and Canada with Les Misérables.

Orchestral appearances include St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Albany Symphony, Princeton Symphony, Springfield Symphony, Vermont Symphony, American Ballet Theater, New York Philharmonic and The MET Opera.

An active chamber musician, Jared was the percussionist for Deviant Septet and has performed with Decoda, Flux Quartet, Horszowski Trio, Alarm Will Sound, Ensemble Connect, Harlem Chamber Players, ICE, Bronx Arts Ensemble, Wet Ink, Wordless Music, and Perspectives Ensemble among others. A strong interest in contemporary and modern music led to performances under conductors Pierre Boulez, Simon Rattle, Susanna Mälkki, Peter Eötvös, Pablo Heras-Casado, Matthias Pintscher and John Adams. With Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Jared has played world premieres from Steven Stucky (Chamber Concerto), Charles Wuorinen (Megalith for piano and 15 Players), Timo Andres (The Blind Banister), and Sally Beamish (Piano Concerto No. 3, City Stanzas).

Jared was an inaugural fellow of The Academy at Carnegie Hall and toured with Ensemble Connect (formerly Ensemble ACJW) performing interactive concerts for young audiences around the world. He also performs with Decoda, an innovative collective of musicians who combine residencies and concerts with community-based education.

Jared’s recordings span the worlds of orchestral, modern and pop music, with

releases ranging from Philip Glass’ Symphony no. 5 (NOVUS NY) and Christopher Rouse’s Kabir

Padavali (Albany Symphony) to Paul Simon’s Stranger to Stranger.

Jared’s compositions, available at Bachovich Publications, have been performed by the percussion ensembles of Boston University, Rutgers and NYU. As a conductor he has led Ensemble ACJW, Juilliard Percussion Ensemble, ACME and Fireworks Ensemble.

In addition to musical pursuits, Jared is an experienced arts technician, with audio, camera operation, live-streaming and art installation credits at French Institute Alliance Française, The Shed, Sony Hall, and Collegium Sound.

Jared holds B.M. and M.M. degrees from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Roland Kohloff and Gordon Gottlieb.

Hailed by the New York Times for her “magnificently sweet tone,” oboist Keve Wilson would skip music theory and history as a kid to practice Irish jigs and reels instead. She was the Broadway oboist for the suspended 2020 revival of Company and in 2018, the Broadway revival Carousel, as well as the 2014 Tony Winner A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Keve inspires visiting high school band and orchestra students from around the country with her original show Believe NYC---from the Band Room to Broadway. A past winner of Concert Artists Guild and solo oboist with the Grammy nominated Absolute Ensemble, she has performed in Amsterdam, Argentina, Austria, Dubai, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Panama, New Zealand, Sicily, and South Korea. A two-time recipient of the Clifford-Levy Creativity Grant, Keve traveled to Makuleke Village in South Africa where she participated in learning and teaching folk songs of the region. She plays oboe for Encores! at City Center, and has subbed on 13 Broadway shows. Keve can be heard on Broadway cast albums including Passion, Carousel, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Encores! recent production of Brigadoon.

Keve has performed at numerous music festivals including Newport Jazz Festival with Miguel Zenon, New Zealand Music Festival, Chamber Music Northwest, Bremen Music Fest, Mostly Mozart Festival in San Luis Obispo, Swannanoa Chamber Music, The Tanglewood Music Center, Juneau Jazz and Classics and many others. She has toured as principal oboist with American Sinfonietta, Quintet of the Americas, and Alarm Will Sound, and in NYC with American Modern Ensemble and On-Site Opera. A teaching artist for organizations including Bridge Arts Ensemble, 92Y, the Diller-Quaile School, and Mancini Institute, Keve has also given college Networking Skills Masterclasses to such institutions as University of Michigan, Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music, University of Miami-Frost School of Music, SUNY Fredonia, NYU, University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina/Greensboro, SUNY Crane and at festivals including New Music on the Point, NYU Summer Intensive, National Young Arts and Mostly Modern Festival. She spent 6 years in Los Angeles as 2nd oboist of Opera Pacific, recorded for TV commercials and films, and premiered After Hearing Bach by Peter Schickele for oboe and string quartet.

From Hyde Park, NY and a graduate of Eastman School of Music, Keve studied oboe with Richard Killmer, piano with Judith Handman and dance with Elizabeth Clark. She lives in New York City with her husband Kerry and Portuguese water dog Bugsy.

NOW TEACHING
Early Childhood Program

Peter Yarin is a NYC-based pianist, whose unique approach to teaching, writing and performing bridges classical, contemporary and jazz styles. Peter recently arranged and recorded solo piano selections for scenes in Netflix' Queen's Gambit. With 1920s vintage jazz orchestra, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, Peter is featured on many soundtracks including the films Joker; Bessie; Mildred Pierce; and Carol; the Grammy-winning Music from Boardwalk Empire, Vol. 1; The Knick; and can be seen performing on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Peter has performed stride and jazz piano at such venues as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Town Hall, "Late Night with Conan O’Brien," "A Prairie Home Companion" and the Newport Jazz Festival, and accompanied such artists as Garrison Keillor, Michael Feinstein and Leon Redbone. An accomplished composer, Peter Yarin is currently developing several projects for musical theater; previous work has been seen at Tokyo’s New National Theatre. He has been published in the BMI Musical Theatre Songbook and Directory of Musical Theatre Writers.

NOW TEACHING
Early Childhood Program